1st / 4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
07/12/1886
Died:
19/04/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
30
Summary
Joseph McIntyre was the son of John and Eliza Jane McIntyre (nee McAteer). He was born on 7th December 1886. He was one of five known children, all born in Dungannon. By 1901 he was 14 and was working as a mill worker. He was living with the family at Ballysaggart, Dungannon. Joseph McIntyre enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was also with the Royal Irish Regiment and finally with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Private Joseph McIntyre was serving with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 19th April 1917 in Palestine.
Further Information
Joseph McIntyre was the son of John and Eliza Jane McIntyre (nee McAteer).
William Joseph McIntyre was born on 7th December 1886. He was one of five known children, al born in Dungannon.
Known family: John McIntyre, Eliza Jane McIntyre, Andrew McIntyre (born 6th March 1883), John McIntyre (born 27th February 1885), William Joseph McIntyre (born 7th December 1886), Thomas James McIntyre (born 17th November 1888), Richard McIntyre (born 3rd June 1891).
The 1901 census records William Joseph McIntyre as 14 years old. He had left school and was working as a mill worker. He was living with the family at Ballysaggart, Derrygortrevy, Tyrone. His father was an army pensioner.
John McIntyre, Joseph’s father, died on 18th January 1909 in Dungannon,, aged 69.
The 1911 census does not list Joseph as living with the family. His mother was now living with her youngest son in Castlecaulfield.
1914
Joseph McIntyre initially enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Service No 3038)
Private Joseph McIntyre entered France on 22nd September 1914 with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
He was later transferred to the Royal Irish Regiment (Service No 4244). He was also with the Royal Scots Fusiliers ((Service No 203309).
1915
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th January 1915: Corporal Johnston’s Christmas
Lance Corporal John Johnston, of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskillings, son of Mr David Johnston, Killymeal, Dungannon, writing to his friends in Dungannon, says that he has had a very merry time at Christmas. He went to Holy Communion at eight o’clock, and saw John McIntyre, Joseph McIntyre and William Dixon (Dickson), all Dungannon boys, there. There was a heavy snow storm on Christmas Day. We all got Princess Mary’s Christmas Box, from which we enjoyed a good smoke. He came across Wingfield Espey (Bush, Dungannon), and was informed that James Davis (Dungannon) was still alive and well. They were all sorry at losing Averall and Devlin, both Dungannon men, reported killed during November, who were very popular in the battalion. He concludes by wishing all the townspeople a New Year, and especially A Company U.V.F., and Mr Bingham, officer commanding and Sergeant Major Whitelaw.
From the Tyrone Courier – 22nd April 1915: A Request for the Courier
Lance Corporal J McIntyre, Dungannon of the Inniskilling Fusiliers in a letter from the front to a friend in Dungannon says :- 'I lay beside the Irish Fusiliers last November but I have not seen them since. I saw young Devlin of the New Row; he was the only Dungannon fellow I saw, but I believe Bob Steenson, of the Windmill Hill, is in the battalion now, Johnston and Taylor are well. They are not in my Company, but I see them regular when we come out of the trenches for a rest. All the other boys are doing well in the regiment. This is a good battalion; my brother and Willie Dickson of the Caulfield Road and myself are in the battalion 6 months. We have seen a lot of country and a lot of Germans. We have met them on several occasions. They are a great nation and have some fine shots, especially the snipers. They never finish firing. They are very dangerous to us when going into the trenches and out of them. As regards their artillery, they are not much good now, but they used to give us hell with their big shells at the beginning but I think they have run short either of ammunition or guns. Thank God for it too as they used to play our trenches up greatly. This regiment has lost a lot of fine men since they came out here. Young Vallely of Moygashel was wounded a few weeks ago. He was also in my Company. I miss Averall; he came out to this country with me last September. We had a very severe winter, but the summer is on us now so it won't be so bad. We had plenty of clothing during the winter months. I was very sorry about Lord Northland. I saw the churchyard where he was buried but I had not time to go in and see it, but his grave is very nicely done up by the men of his own regiment (the Coldstream Guards). I would like a copy of the Tyrone Courier to see something about Dungannon'
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 29th May 1915: Private John McIntyre (brother of Joseph McIntyre)
By far the most serious information was received on Friday when Lance Corporal John McIntyre, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, wrote to his mother who resides in Linfield Street as follows:-
‘You will be surprised to know that I am wounded and at present in Cambridge East War Hospital. Joe (his brother) and I were both wounded on Sunday last at the one time – he in the foot and I in the small of my back. We were lucky, as nearly all the regiment were killed. Young Dickson was killed, and Joe Cunningham is wounded. Joe and I may be home in a month or so. Young Dickson was killed beside me, and I took a wee box from him to bring home to his mother. It was an awful battle on Saturday and Sunday, and we gained a great victory. We charged over heaps of dead Germans.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 29th May 1915:
His brother, Private Joseph McIntyre, has also written his brother that he is at present in East Leeds War Hospital suffering from a wound received in the left ankle. He also reports that Dickson was killed on the Sunday morning and adds that the Inniskillings won a great victory but lost over half the battalion. The man reported killed in the above letter is Private William R Dickson, second son of Mr Richard Dickson, Lisnahull, Dungannon. On hearing of the intimation, Rev T J McEndoo, M.A., visited the house and broke the sorrowful news to the parents. Mr Dickson afterwards wired for information to the War Office and received a reply that the name did not appear on the casualty list furnished. This was some consolation, but it is believed that the information contained in the two letters may be accurate.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 29th May 1915: Lance Corporal McIntyre on Shell Fire (Lance Corporal John McIntyre – brother of Joseph McIntyre)
Lance Corporal John McIntyre, of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who is at present in East Cambridge War Hospital, writing to friends in Dungannon says:-
‘Just a few lines to let you know that my brother Joseph and I are in hospital wounded, but we are coming on well. I was wounded in the back, and my brother in the ankle. We were lucky to ever see England again, as our regiment had a bayonet charge last Saturday night and we took two lines of German trenches at the point of the bayonet. We were under heavy fire from the time we left the trenches until we reached the Germans, but we fixed them up for the men we lost in the charge. I cannot say how any men we lost in the charge, but I know a number of my own section fell. Young Willie Dickson of Dungannon was killed and I cannot say anything about the other fellows from the town. I got a box from Dickson’s pocket, the only thing I could get for a keepsake. Dickson and I came out here together last September and went through a lot since. We often talked about the times we had in Dungannon, and wondered if we would ever get back. I can nearly swear that out of the thousand men of the Inniskillings who made the great charges on Saturday and Sunday, there were 700 or 800 killed or wounded. I don’t know how young Joe Cunningham of Dungannon got on, as I had no time to see. I got wounded and fell beside two of my chums and we lay under heavy fire until three o’clock on Sunday morning. We were too bad to crawl out of danger. One of my wounded chums got killed by a bullet, so we had a close shave. The shell fire was terrible as the shells were bursting all around us, and we were waiting on our turn. I never saw such fire from the big guns, rifles and machine guns. The machine guns mowed our men down like grass. On Sunday morning, when I came to, I tried to make my way back to our trenches with the German bullets cutting the grass around me. I took cover behind a dead comrade, and on looking at his face I believed, to my horror, that it was my brother. You can guess the state I was in as I crept towards our trench, and on reaching it the first man to speak to me was my brother. He asked me where I was hit and I told him. He had already had his ankle dressed. I was obliged to stop all the Sunday in the front trench, and the German shells nearly did for the lot of us, and I saw half a dozen of our men killed or wounded with one shell from the enemy’s heavy guns. Another shell killed three of our wounded, not more than ten yards from where I was lying. It was an awful Sunday, and in the evening they tried counter attacks on our boys to get their lost trenches back. Our artillery and machine guns, and ourselves with rifles, went at them and mowed them down like sheep. The enemy thought it better to go back and let the British keep the trenches. We all had mouth pads to protect us from the poison gas shells. The Germans use all kinds of stuff to stop us and break through our lines, but it is all in vain. Robert Taylor of Dungannon was wounded a couple of days before the charge, and on the morning after, I saw John Johnston of Dungannon, who got through it all safely. The Germans are great fighters, and fight to the last man. They have plenty of machine guns and when you are advancing on them, the bullets are passing you in thousands, and it is pure luck that a fellow reaches the enemy at all. When we showed them the steel in the dark and got into their trenches, we made them hop. Any of them that were left were easily counted for we made them sit up for the dirty tricks they do. They kill some of our wounded and threw vittol on others and burnt them, and then laugh at the poor fellows’ agony. I have seen all this and also the vittol bombs they throw at night after a battle to catch the wounded who are not fit to get to safety. I am glad to get a good rest after doing my best to fight the Germans for eight months in France and Belgium. I was surprised to see Corporal Anderson of Moygashel in the base hospital. He dressed my wound before I left France, and we were glad to see each other. I hope to get to Dungannon on leave next month and see all the boys.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 2nd July 1915:
Private Joseph McIntyre, of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who received a shrapnel wound in the leg during the fighting at Festubert last month, returned home to Dungannon on Wednesday to recuperate.
From the Tyrone Courier – 8th July 1915: Local soldiers on Furlough
Private Joseph McIntyre, of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who received shrapnel wound in the leg during the fighting at Festubert in May, returned home to Dungannon on Wednesday to recuperate.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st July 1915: Corporal John McIntyre (brother of Joseph McIntyre)
Corporal John McIntyre, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, returned home to Dungannon on Monday. It will be remembered that he received very serious wounds in the back during the big fight at Festubert in May last, and was a considerable period in hospital in England. He is now progressing rapidly, and has obtained ten days leave.
From the Tyrone Courier – 25th November 1915: Four Brothers with the Colours
Four sons of Mrs John McIntyre, Linfield Street, Dungannon are serving their country in the army. Lance-corporal John McIntyre, 2nd Inniskillings, the eldest, enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery at Dungannon some twelve years ago and had served for a period with his regiment in Gibraltar. He went to the front with the 2nd Inniskillings shortly after the outbreak of the present war and had been wounded in May last. He is now serving on the military police attached to the 2nd Inniskillings and is stationed at Derry. The next son, Joseph McIntyre, 2nd Inniskillings, was on the reserve and had been called up at the start of the war. He had been wounded in May last and is now back at the front. The next son, Corporal Thomas McIntyre, 9th Inniskillings, volunteered at the outbreak of hostilities and is now in France with his regiment. The youngest son, Private Richard McIntyre, 10th Irish Fusiliers, had been employed on an Australian ship and on coming home, volunteered and is now in training at Lurgan. Their father, the late Mr John McIntyre, who died some six years ago, had served 21 years in the army, holding the rank of Sergeant.
1916
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 1st January 1916: Lance Corporal Thomas Lawson mentions Joseph McIntyre
Lance Corporal Thomas Lawson, 1st Inniskillings, who was wounded during the landing at the Dardanelles in April last, and has since been in hospital in Cairo, now intimates to his parents in Milltown Dungannon, that he has returned to Gallipoli. He has promoted to be full Corporal. He mentions that Private Joseph McIntyre, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was wounded at Festubert in May, and has been in hospital in England, is now at Gallipoli attached to the 1st Battalion.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 13th July 1916: (brother of Joseph McIntyre)
Lance-Corporal Thomas McIntyre, Royal Inniskilling fusiliers, (Tyrone Volunteers), was wounded in action on 3rd July 1916. His mother resides in Linfield Street, Dungannon. He is one of four brothers with the colours.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916: (brother)
Lance Corporal Thomas McIntyre, 9th Inniskillings, was wounded in action on 3rd July. His mother resides in Linfield Street, Dungannon. He is one of four brothers serving with the colours.
1917
In March 1917, Gaza was attacked and surrounded by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the First Battle of Gaza which was unsuccessful.
The Second Battle of Gaza, also unsuccessful, was fought on 17-19 April and left the Turks in possession.
Private Joseph McIntyre was serving with the 1st/4th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 19th April 1917 in Palestine.
It was not until late 1917 when the ruined city was eventually re-taken on 7th November 1917.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 10th May 1917
Mrs John McIntyre, Linfield Street, Dungannon, has received intimation that her second son, Private Joseph McIntyre, 2nd Inniskillings, has been killed in action. He was one of four brothers serving with the colours. One of them, Corporal Thomas McIntyre, recently underwent an operation, and is in hospital, and another Private Richard McIntyre, Irish Fusiliers, was reported missing after the 1st July battle. Their father had served 21 years on the army. The deceased soldier had been called up on the reserve on the outbreak of hostilities and had been wounded in May 1915.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 24th May 1917: Official Casualties
This week’s official casualty lists include the names of 4244 Private J McIntyre (Royal Scots Fusiliers), Dungannon, killed; and Privates S Newell, Stewartstown, (Royal Irish Rifles), and P Cassidy, Dungannon, (Northumberland Fusiliers), wounded.
Joseph’s younger brother, Private Richard McIntyre, also died in the war. He was killed at the Somme in July 1916
Memorials
Private Joseph McIntyre is buried at Gaza War Cemetery.
Private Joseph McIntyre is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
The CWGC record Private Joseph McIntyre as the son of John and Eliza Jane McIntyre of Linfield Street, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
